August 6, 2026 | 12:25 PM
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory to remain calm following an earth tremor recorded in parts of Abuja on Tuesday.Alake also directed the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency to send him hourly updates on seismic activities in the capital for monitoring and possible engagement with other government agencies.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Assistant on Media, Lara Owoeye-Wise.The NGSA had confirmed that several buildings in Abuja experienced vibrations after the tremor on August 4.According to the agency, its monitoring station in Utako recorded the tremor at 11:23:27 a.m. It occurred at a depth of one kilometre and travelled four kilometres in five seconds.
Though currently in Washington, D.C. for talks with American investors, Alake appealed to residents not to panic, assuring that measures had been put in place to protect lives and property.The NGSA described the incident as “a light event of I to II magnitude on the Mercalli scale,” adding that it poses no threat to lives or property.
The minister said the agency will continue monitoring the situation and urged residents to go about their activities without fear.Earth tremors are rare in Nigeria but have been recorded occasionally in the FCT and neighbouring states. The NGSA operates seismic stations nationwide to track such events.
